Embracing the Good News for Planet Earth ‘In the good ol’ summertime … go exploring’

What is summer made of?  Family re-unions, weddings,road trips, vacations, ‘stay-cations’ - it’s the season to go exploring – visit a favorite place and see it from a fresh perspective, or visit a place new to you.  Whatever you enjoy this summer, we hope you gain a renewed appreciation of this fragile, yet beautiful world that as Pope Francis puts it, is our ‘common home’.

Missouri is fortunate to have a strong, well-funded Department of Conservation created in 1937 through citizen-led efforts.   It is now a national leader in conservation and education.  Use www.mdc.mo.gov/atlas for details about our 14 conservation centers, including trails, scheduled programs, maps, driving directions, plus hundreds of other conservations areas for fun ways to explore the outdoors.

Did you know that we’ve been celebrating the centennial of our Missouri parks system?  On April 9, 1917, a state park fund was created to buy land for this purpose.  New parks continue to be created.  Visit two of our newest parks:  Echo Bluff State Park and Don Robinson State Park.  Echo Bluff, which includes a section of Sinking Creek, the second-largest tributary of the Current River, is located in a scenic valley deep in the Ozarks and provides connections to several other state parks and natural areas.   Accommodations include camp sites, cabins and a beautiful lodge.  Don Robinson State Park, with over 800 acres is the state’s newest park, and lies just southwest of the metropolitan St. Louis area in Jefferson County.  It offers a variety of beautiful contrasting botanical areas – slot canyons provide wet environments with rare ferns and mosses while above them are desert-like glades with species like prickly pear cactus.  LaBarque Creek Conservation area lies on the park’s northern boundary and together they provide almost 2,000 acres of natural beauty near one of the most heavily developed urban areas in the state.  While enjoying these areas, be mindful that in many states, both residents and out-of-state visitors must pay fees to visit their parks and natural areas.  Appreciate Missouri’s free access to these treasures.  Visit https://mostateparks.com/ for more information.

Treasures can be found in urban areas also – visit the Missouri Botanical Garden (aka Shaw’s Garden) in St Louis, while ‘Garden of Glass’ is in place through August 13 – this special show of fused glass sculptures placed primarily in the Climatron, are beautiful in their own right and enhance the striking variety of plants found there. The St Louis Zoo is a leader in research and conservation efforts and in providing natural habitats for animals in their care.  The St Louis Science Center, also located in Forest Park, offers a variety of exhibits, hands-on activities and a planetarium. Admission is free to both the Zoo and the Science Center with fees charged for special attractions.  The Anita B Gorman Conservation Center in the heart of Kansas City, near Country Club Plaza, demonstrates many effective conservation practices in a very urban setting – a native plant landscape, wetlands, a water garden and more, plus a LEED certified building that includes many exhibits and hands-on activities. 

Check our Sustainable Living blog at http://occsustainable.blogspot.com/ for more helpful information – children’s books on a wide variety of environmental topics, kid-friendly websites, plus trails, parks and conservations areas around Columbia.  Enjoy your explorations!

…Sustainable Living Steering Committee

Embracing the Good New for Planet Earth: Reflections from Merry Lea

Let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment. ~Pope Francis

Time.  Where did it all go?  How can we slow it down? These commonly asked questions apply especially to me as I complete my 11-month studies for my Master’s degree at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College.  As I think back 11 months ago, this day seemed far into the future, with many hurdles to cross. But here I am on the other side reflecting now with bittersweet memories.  Commencing with the classes I’ve completed, countless students I’ve taught, and the wonderful people I’ve met, it’s been a magnificent experience I wouldn’t trade for anything!  It hasn’t always been an easy road. Like most of life it has been filled with ups and downs, adventures, struggles and countless growing opportunities. However, I do acknowledge God has changed my life forever!

Helping with bird banding at Merry Lea this past summer.

Over this past year I have had many magnificent opportunities.  I was privileged to work in Ligonier, Indiana with an after school program teaching students all about decomposition/ life cycles and planting seeds. By starting worm compost, students’ horizons were piqued in getting their hands dirty, with interest in the environment further motivated.  My month long stay on beautiful Andros Island, Bahamas provided me the opportunity to learn from students as well as the privilege to teach them concerning the mangrove forests, ‘blue hole’ ecosystems, and the significant roles they have on their environment.

Exploring and teaching on Andros Island, Bahamas.

 As an environmental educator, it is important to build relationships in order to connect with people and accompany wherever they are in life. Learning is a lifelong process and individuals must make small changes in their particular lives before large drastic changes can occur.  Environmental education encompasses more than teaching people concerning the environment; it is educating people on their role in the environment and what they can do on a personal level.  Starting with … “Where does your food come from?”  “How does the environment influence our daily lives?” “How are we assisting or harming?” “What am I demonstrating to my children or grandchildren concerning being an environmental steward?”

 

Some of my graduate cohort this year who have become like family to me!

So let me leave you with this question, what does environmental education mean to you?  Certainly none of this would have been possible without your various acts of kindness, prayer and support through this past year. The presence of God and each of you was evident daily. For that I am most appreciative and humbled. I will be back in Missouri for a short week visit June 30^th- July 6^th.  I would love to discuss this more with you in person, and can’t wait to see you all.  Have a wonderful summer and may you have much success with the BBQ!    … Kaitlyn Winters Bradley, MA Environmental Education

Embracing the Good News for Planet Earth The Martz Scholarship for Sustainable Agriculture

The official document of the University of Missouri reads “Family, friends and former students of Dr. Martz established the Fred and Donna Martz Scholarship Endowment Fund on 3-15-2012 to provide scholarship awards to students undertaking study in the Sustainable Agriculture Program of the College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources”. 

The Martz Scholarship is a very fulfilling honor for the entire Martz family.  Never in my wildest dreams did I envision the establishment of such an award.  I always envisioned such honors went to those with many more achievements and talents than me.  The endowment has now grown to two $1,500 awards each year. 

Preference for the award is for students studying Sustainable Agriculture, Animal Science, Agronomy and/or Soils.  Applicants are required to write an essay, not to exceed one page, about their personal vision for sustainable agriculture and the applicant shall have completed or be enrolled in a sustainable agriculture course.  Studies teach that practices and theories in Sustainable Agriculture must be profitable, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable.

As scholarship recipients move on in their careers, they continue to demonstrate sustainable agricultural practices in a variety of interesting projects, all contributing to the intended objectives.  

·         Luke Freeman is working as a Horticulturist at the Southeast Area Center of the National Center for Applied Technology in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  His wife, Natalie, sells produce and eggs from their store, The Freckled Hen Farmhouse. 

·         Jessica Hill, a 2014 recipient serves as Assistant Farm Manager at the Jones Valley Teaching Farm, Birmingham, Alabama where she teaches Middle Schoolers.  At the Farm they give students hands-on experience with soil and plants to help them connect discoveries in the classroom to action in the community. 

·         Kendra Earl, a 2015 recipient, is finishing her Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and recently did a 6-week visit/study in Southern Peru (14,000 ft. elevation) with poor farmers where she studied if or how a previous 10-year livestock project (Alpaca improvement) has affected their lives.  This information will contribute to her thesis. 

These examples illustrate the ripple effect of schooling and scholarship. The Sustainable Agriculture Program, as well as the Martz family, are very proud of the continuing outreach of our scholarship winners.  

~Fred Martz

Embracing the Good News for Planet Earth: Sustainable Agriculture Program-University of Missouri-Columbia

The Sustainable Agriculture Undergraduate Program at the University of Missouri-Columbia may not be well-known outside the university but it does exist!  Mary Hendrickson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology serves as the undergraduate advisor, 200B Gentry Hall, 573-882-7463.  Students majoring in this program will receive a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a transcript emphasis in Sustainable Agriculture.  The program generally has about 25 majors and minors and features an introductory course and advanced courses in food production and community food systems.  The advanced production course is now team taught by a group of interdisciplinary scientists, and utilizes a unique teaching approach that poses farmer based dilemmas in managing soil, water, energy and biodiversity on the farm.

Agriculture is the production and processing of food for human consumption. Defining ‘sustainable agriculture’ to everyone’s satisfaction is very difficult. Sustainability adds the concept that the period of time for food production is very long, possibly even endless—where resources such as soil, water, and minerals are used judiciously, but not exhausted.  There are areas in China where the agriculture systems are 4,000 years old and still going. These food production systems are far different than systems used here in the US. Truth is, US systems are not sustainable at this time. 

Teaching Sustainable Agriculture at the University focuses on balancing tradeoffs between Farm Profitability, Environmental Soundness, and Societal Wellbeing – or balancing tradeoffs between community, ecology and economics.   Important concepts include:  Utilization of sun-energy to reduce dependence on other sources; conservation and protection of natural resources (water, fossil fuels, etc.; soil health; concerns and contribution to community; concerns for and elimination of environmental pollution, how society has developed our current situations and how we can make adjustments; plus a host of other situations which lead to unsustainability. 

The Missouri Sustainable Agriculture Program is still in its infancy. Classes were first held in 2006, sparked by interest in MU Extension’s Community Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture Program and funded through a USDA grant.  Many changes have occurred during the past 20 years and more are likely to come in the future.  Next month, look for profiles of Sustainable Ag Scholarship Winners!

Our thanks to Dr. Fred Martz, one of the originators of this program, and to Dr. Jim Spain, who helped develop the original advanced production class …Sustainable Living Steering Committee

Using Nature’s Colors - Naturally Dyed Eggs

I’m excited to welcome Spring my favorite time of year, as well as Easter the sacred time for Christians. The tradition of egg dyes can be found throughout history, from the early practice of staining eggs red to signify the blood of Christ, to children dying eggs to resemble colored jelly beans.  I have been fascinated with eggs for years—growing up on a farm, coloring eggs as a child, and learning to cover blown out eggs with washi (Japanese rice paper) while in Japan. Several years ago Edie Pigg taught me natural egg dye thru her Herb Club and I have enjoyed experimenting with new concepts since. I will be offering natural egg dyes Wednesday evenings, March 29^th and April 5^th at Olivet at 6:00 p.m., as part of the Art as a Spiritual Practice education series.

Easter is a reminder of abundance and fertility so let’s make ourselves familiar with nature’s color and have some creative fun. The following are supplies you can be collecting now as well as an abundance of eggs-brown or white as each provides a variety of colors and textures.

Plan to join us - clean out cabinets/drawers for:

·         -Clean, plastic quart size yogurt/cottage cheese/ice cream containers

·        - Old panty hose/knee hi’s  (holds blossoms/leaves/rice around eggs to make unique designs)

·        - Yellow/red onion skins

·         -Check your freezers for old fruit-raspberries/blueberries/blackberries which are used as dyes

·         -Old silk ties (100% silk) – from the back of the closet or a thrift store – silk-dyed eggs produce beautifully colored patterns

-Bring from home or shop for the following items a few days before the 1^st session:

·         -New blossoms, baby leaves, etc., from plants that haven’t been frozen

·         -Herbs – such as cilantro, parsley, dill weed, or anything from the produce section that is light, wispy, dainty looking

·        - Eggs – white and brown – each provides a variety of colors and textures

Think Spring!  Karen Bradley

Embracing the Good News for Planet Earth: Sustainability in Ireland

Last month we commented on Irish Celtic Spirituality in regard to respect for the environment, which perhaps is one of the factors contributing to Ireland’s serious efforts to become a sustainable country.  Although Ireland is a relatively small country with a relatively uniform warm and moist climate, it has significant environmental diversity, a history of exploitation of resources, and a growing urban population all of which might offer other countries some models for sustainable development.  Ireland, like our own country, wishes to both maintain and share its beautiful landscapes.

For example, SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) provides resources and support for energy research, audits, and practical solutions for home and businesses.  SEAI identifies potential for bioenergy, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and heat demand.  Ireland, along with many other European countries is committed to making a transition to a resource-efficient, low-carbon, and environmentally-friendly economy.  They manage their progress through their own Environmental Protection Agency.

EcoTourism Ireland assists tourism entities to manage more sustainably by training businesses to understand the factors that contribute to environmental degradation and climate change, and adapt accordingly.  They know that marketing their positive environmental policies brings tourists that want to share in the protection of natural landscapes, historic sites, and leave that heritage for others.  They in turn work with such local organizations as the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, but also with the EcoTourism projects of other European Countries.

…Larry Brown, Sustainable Living Steering Committee

Embracing the Good News for Planet Earth: Celtic Christianity

Embracing the Good News for Planet Earth

Celtic Christianity

Christianity first came to Ireland mostly likely in the second century through trade with Roman Britain, but there are stories of earlier contacts and influences.  However, due to relative isolation and the strength of the Celtic culture, Irish Christianity (Irish Catholicism) had features distinct from Roman Catholicism including such mystical elements as the paradoxical tension between the nearness and farness of God, the fleeting vanity of the world, and the wonder of all creation.  For them, especially apparent in the lives of the monks, was the appreciation of wildlife, trees, plants, the weather, the sea, and the sky as sacramental manifestations of God’s creativity.  Carried over from the earlier Celtic/Druid traditions, they believed that spirits of ancestors and other spiritual entities could be found in “thin spaces” or “thin times” where the space or transition between this world and other realities was very narrow, boundary points between the material world and the other world. Celtic Christians had a sense of living on the margins, on the edge, and seeking places of resurrection, doorways to heaven in this world.

We might learn from Celtic Christians the passionate presence of God in all of life:  eating, working, loving, playing, and tending the natural environment.  Irish saints befriended and protected wild animals, loving and celebrating nature.  Perhaps we can learn from them the passion to restore creation and counter the pathways of greed, intolerance, and violence.  (References:  Woods, The Spirituality of the Celtic Saints; Joyce, Celtic Christianity: A Sacred Tradition, A Vision of Hope; Herm, The Celts.)

Sustainable Living Updates - Green Chalice Notes

Saving Energy – Saving Money … across the Community

Energy efficiency improvements are very important for schools, businesses, and churches as well as individual households.  Did you know that Mizzou is a national leader in using renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions?    Over one-third the energy MU uses annually comes from renewable energy – biomass, wind and solar.  MU ranks #4 (behind Walmart, Apple and the US Department of Energy) in on-site generation of green electricity in EPA’s Green Power Partnership using an energy technology called biomass combined heat and power. MU has adopted a new LED lighting standard in new and renovated facilities, and recently replaced lighting in two parking garages with LED lighting, which is saving over 60% in electricity costs for those garages.  See the bulletin board for additional information on several ways the University of Missouri has implemented energy saving practices and programs.  Since 2008, MU has reduced its carbon footprint by over 51%--a tremendous improvement—more than halfway to achieving their climate neutrality goal by 2050.  Begin to think about ways that Olivet might better conserve energy and participate in renewable energy.  (MU statistics, courtesy ESSAG-Energy Strategies Student Advisory Group)

Last month’s tips on saving household energy are worth repeating.  A very simple way to make an immediate impact is to switch your lighting to LED bulbs.

v  Review information about energy saving programs posted in Fellowship Hall.

v  Talk with friends and family who have made use of these programs, such as Chester Edwards, Marjorie Audsley, Chris Kunz, and Dennis Bettenhausen.  (Note:  the city offers low-interest loans to help customers make improvements.)

v  Contact your utility service providers to learn more and make a plan:

o   City of Columbia:  call 874-7325 or visit:  https://www.como.gov/WaterandLight/

o   Boone Electric Co-operative:  call 449-4181 or visit: http://www.booneelectric.coop/

o   Ameren Missouri - https://www.ameren.com/missouri

v  Make an investment in a brighter, cleaner, healthier future for the next generation and for Planet Earth - our Common Home.  Using current technology, we can realize significant savings.

Upcoming Olivet events - put these dates on your calendar now.

Our Sustainable Living theme this year is ‘Water – Essential for Life - Ways We Can Conserve, Protect, Share and Appreciate this Gift. 

·         Sunday, March 5, 12:45 p.m., Lunch & Learn – “What Makes for a Quality Watershed? – Part I” Meet in the Multipurpose Room following the Week of Compassion lunch for an interesting discussion with Olivet’s own Bob Broz, Extension Water Quality Specialist, and others about the challenges, rewards and practical steps we can take to work together for clean streams and healthy watersheds.

·         Sunday, April 9 - Seeds ‘n Sprouts –this annual event for transplanting and taking home flower and veggie seedlings is scheduled later this year – reducing the time needed to keep your seedlings indoors.

·         Saturday, April 22 – “What Makes for a Quality Watershed? – Part II” - Field Trip to City of Columbia’s water treatment facility and wetlands at McBaine on the Missouri River.

·         Sunday, May 7 - Annual Youth & Property Work Day – fill the planters and pots in the Music & Education patio area with flower and veggie seedlings; weed and mulch trees and flower beds.

Beat the ‘Winter Blahs’ - Visit Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City to see their new forest area exhibit, “The Forest Revealed’ … as you walk the path, hunt for mushrooms, peer into the forest layers, smell a sassafras tree, call a squirrel and see how many animals use the forest community.  Kids can climb into a tree house and explore life in and around the tree.  Enjoy this exhibit indoors; then get outside and enjoy the real thing.

Runge offers a variety of programs for all ages including regularly scheduled midweek and Saturday hikes at conservation areas throughout mid-Missouri.  To learn more, call 573-526-5544 or visit http://mdc.mo.gov/regions/central/runge-nature-center Sign up to receive Habitat Happenings, their bi-monthly newsletter via email or print copy.

Building Hours:  Tuesday-Saturday:  8 AM-5 PM; Thursday:  8 AM-8 PM. 

                         Closed Sunday, Monday and all State Holidays.

Trail Hours:  Open daily 6 AM-9 PM